Here I thought I had 1 fantail and two ryukins, where it turns out I actually have 1 fantail (who I thought was a ryukin) A real ryukin, and a ribbontail, (who I thought was a fantail). Should this really matter, well no, but it irks me that I was miss informed. Does anyone know exactly what a ribbontail is? Is it a type of fantail, or a type of ryukin or is it it's own breed.

Ribbon tail, butterfly tail, fringe tail, broad tail... the difference really lies only in the fins Both my calico fantails and one of my moors have ribbon tails When a fantail usually is recognized by the smooth back and stiff tail, there are some that have different shapes on their tails, but are still variety-wise, fantails. Ryukins are usually the ones with the broadtails, which simply are bigger tails, not like a veiltail, because it's forked, but similar Fringe tails are like our big, old fantail, he's got his tail and fins about the size of a veiltail, but his caudal fin is forked, and his body is shaped like a fantail and not a ryukin, which makes him a fringe tail.

So you have two fantails and a ryukin And the ribbontail is "just" a fantail with longer caudal lobes

Fantailer: I just looked at the other post with the photos and it looks like a Shubunkin, if that is the fish you are talking about. Why do you think it is a fantail?? And how is it slow? You confuse me

Oh great I have a shubunkin with a fantail thats not good. The petstore labeled it as a fantail . I meant that Ive seen faster shubunkins and comets but I have to admit he is faster than the other fish. They don't compete for food though the supposed shubunkin gets the first peice and then the fantail catches on. I'll post a pic later today I'm getting ready for school.

Don't worry too much. As long as you watch them eating and make sure that the fantail gets enough food then he will be fine.I keep a comet, fantail and pearlscale with no problems whatsoever Funnily enough the fantail and pearscale are little piggies and generally end up eating more than my comet does.

Judging by the rounded body and the tail in the first pic...that looks like a calico fantail to me...Though in the second photo it looks more like a comet...Its hard to tell cause the photos are a little fuzzy

I was just reading on this site that due to poor breeding standards different types of goldfish can have caudal fins that their species was nor originally bred to have. So maybe this is just a fantail with a single caudal fin then?See here: (Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.)

I think in the second photo he looks like a fantail but it is really hard to tell I'm sure you can look up some photos on the internet fantailer and work it out for yourself A fantail and a shubunkin together though not recommended would be fine, fantails are pretty good swimmers and are greedy so don't worry if it is a shubunkin

I think they call that kind of goldfish a nymph. According to my book Animal Planet Aquarium Care of Goldfish by David E. Boruchowitz, "Nymphs= Goldfish breeds come and go in popularity. Some consider the goldfish known as "nymphs" to be a breed that is practically extinct, but others consider the nymph to be a sport, a genetic variation or throwback that pops up from time to time in a spawn of double-tailed fish. All goldfish varieties, however, are just sports that people decided to selectively breed for once they appeared. The fish in question here has an egg-shaped body like a fantail, but with a single tail."